Paul gmehlht



(No Model.)

P, GMEHLIN.

I KEY RAIL FOR PIANOS AND ORGANS. 4 No. 295.383. Patented Mar. 18, 1884,

WITNESSES VENTOR ATTORNEYS.

N. PErERs Pholo-Lflhngmpher. Wmhinglon. 0.1:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

PAUL GMEHLIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KEY-RAIL FOR PIANOS AND ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,383, dated March 18, 1884.

Application filed October 25, 1883. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL GMEHLIN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Rails for Upright Pianos and Organs, of which the following is a specification.

It is a well-known fact that in playing upright pianos and organs the vertical front face of the key-rail is scratched from its upper edge downward by the nails of the players, so as to frequently present a very unsightly appearance.

This invention is designed to prevent the scratching of the key-rail; and it consists of a protecting guard-plate that extends over the upper front edge of the key-rail, which is pro vided with longitudinal recesses or slits, into which the ends of the guard-plate are sprung.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view, partly in vertical transverse section, of a key-board and key-rai1 of an upright piano or organ; and Fig. 2 is a detail vertical transverse section of the key-rail on a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the key-board of an upright piano or organ, and B the key-rail, which rises vertically at the rear ends of the keys. The key'rail B is provided at its upper front edge with aflat or convex guard-plate, O, that extends over the entire length of the key-rail, and is let by its bent spring ends 12 1) into parallel longitudinal slits or recesses b-one at each side of the upper front edge of the keyrail.

The guard-plate C may be made of metal and nickel or silver plated, or of hard rubber,

celluloid, or other suitable material that is capable of resisting the scratching action of the nails.

. The guard-plate is preferably so arranged that it projects somewhat beyond the vertical front face of the key-rail B, so that the finger nails, when striking thereon, will glance off without coming into contact with the face of the key-rail and injuring the polished surface of the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the key-rail of an upright piano or organ, of a guard-plate which covers the upper edge and projects somewhat in front of the keyrail, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in an upright piano or organ, of a key-rail having parallel longitudinal slits or recesses at the upper edge of its front face, with a guard-plate the ends of which are sprung into said slits, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in an upright piano or organ, of a key-rail having parallel longitudinal slits or recessesone at each side of the upper edge of the front face of the key-rail-- with a guard-plate the ends of which are sprung into said slits, and which project somewhat in front of the key-rail, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL GMEHLIN. Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, SIDNEY MANN. 

